James Michael "Mike" Johnson
By: Terry McDaniel
Updated: November 16, 2012
James Michael "Mike" Johnson of Geneva, AL went to be with his Lord on November 15, 2012. Born August 12, 1935 to Ponie F. Johnson and Mable Baker Johnson, first wife Sylvia Barnes Johnson, whom precedes him in death, along with one daughter, Brenda Holt Muir and a grandson, Todd Silverthorne. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November, 17, 2012 in the chapel of Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva.
He was raised in Geneva and graduated in 1952 from Geneva High School where he excelled in football and baseball. He attended Troy University until joining the US Navy, serving 21 years, retiring with the rank of Chief Petty Officer E-7 in 1973 to Edenton, NC were he started his career as a commercial and residential construction superintendent. He worked for Twiddy Construction, Tidewater Construction, and R.E. Lee Construction of Charlottesville, VA. He managed the expansion of the University of Va's Scott stadium and the Wintergreen Ski Resort. In 1983 he moved to Kodiak, Alaska to supervise the erection of all the Coast Guard building working with Contex Construction.
One more move in 1986 brought him back to Geneva where he started his own custom cabinent shop and wholesale - retail J. Michaels; working also at Ft. Rucker at first as a woodworking instructor and later as a superintend of the new hangers on base. In 1994 he and Maxine Taylor were married and jointly operated both businesses until recently. He was active in the Coast Guard Rescue and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Maxine Taylor Johnson; one daughter, Angelia Johnson Silverthorne and husband David of Edenton, NC; four step children, Bobby Holt and wife Mary of Portsmouth, VA, Delisa Massey and husband Jeff of Chipley, FA, Phyllis Holt Johnson and husband Larry of Toms Brook, VA, and Dana Brewer and husband Bobby of Alpharetta, GA; one grandson, Michael Johnson and wife Leslie of Edenton, NC; four great grandchildren, August and Layla Johnson, David Todd and Nicolas Silverthorne all of Edenton, NC; seven step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren; one brother, Pete Johnson and wife Dora of Seminole, AL; two sisters, Pat Kemp and husband Robert of Dothan, AL, and Jean Whiddon of Brinbridge, GA, and several nieces and nephews.
